Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-01-12

Tho story 81 General Grants life savors
more OF romance than reality. As light
and shade produce the most attractive
effects IN a picture, so tho singular con-
trasts In the iifc Of tho lnmentcd General
surrounded him with peculiar interest
LlOst men who have reached exalted sta
zion In our land como before the people by
Progressive stages, while General Grant
recmcd 10 como with a sudden bound.
With tho acts 81 his public career all mon
ere abundantly familiar. and I would
rather dwell upon those purely personal
traits which ! think more truly illustrate
his character than his greater deeds. Those
who knew him best sometimes understood
him least. Even 10 myself, who served
with him for many years. he will always
remain ~ some respects an enigma. lie
did nos possess the quality Of personal
magnetism, but his power over the army
was perhaps the result Of his mems conf
dcnce In his ability 20 protect them from
surprise. The General early acquired the
reputation for being rcticcnt, but ret
iccnce was rather tho result Of education
while In high Office than natural
characteristic. General Grant always had
particular affection for the people OF
New England. and think the regard was
mutual General Grant has ofioa been
gard 10 hts personalities The refinement
Of his tactics, the degree Of his mental ac-
Cuirements have both been questioned.
When his great victories were proclaimed,
lac was stigmatizod as butcher. He had
then To bear what every public man must
bcar-that reproach which 10 concom-
liant OF greatness Now, as 20 education,
he was trained in the National military
rchoOL In the exact sciences he was par
ticularly proficient, and in landscape
painting be- was excellent He was an
ardent reader OF current literature. but he
never laid tho slightest claim TO any knowl-
edge he did not possess. To him the ap-
probation Of music was lost sense. he
used 20 say he knew but two tunes; one
was "Yaultoo Doodle" and the other
wasn't. While General Grant's rcputa-
tioh VIII always rest mainly upon HIS
achievements ns n soldier. he was natural
ly man OF peace. l think what
hurt his feelings more than any
saipg else was the charge that he was
reckless OF human life. He never could
bear 20 look upon tho wounded. He ncycr
could endure tho sight of blood and oven
would not cat rare meat. When in his
dying days he was kept alive with an ex-
tract Of beof, every care had 10 be taken
20 keep tho knowledge Of this kind of
soldier, ready To rough IL with tho vcricst
private. lie was one of the best ridcrs in
the service, and whom on the march would
lie down in the most uncomfortable places
without covering. But some one Of the
men always covered him. and after he had
fallen asleep. He ate less than any other
man almost In the army. His love ~
smoking was, however. historical. The
6cueral was a natural born bushwhaclrcr.
tic seldom took tho wrong roel IN an un-
known country, but whru he did he had a
prejudice amounting 10 almost supcrstitu-
ton against turning back. When the enc
my encountered him IN battle they had n
good chance 10 realize this aversion Of
his 70 turning back. Courage assumes
30 many different forms that we must
10 careful in attempting 20 define IT,
General Grant wns possessed Of
rare and conspicuous courage.
Not n courage born OF excitement,
but one that never seemed 20 vury under
any circumstances In his life. he never
seemed aware that there was any danger
10 him or any ono about him. On the oven
ing u the second day Of the battle .of the
Wilderness. when 10 seemed At times as III
every thing was about 10 turn into into n
panic, Gran. seemed 10 me 10 stand a foot
taller than he ever stood before or since.
Soon, ns the result OF his orders. the at
tack ceased. and then he said very pleas
Gntly; "Come, let US get what slccp-we
can; we shall have busy day tomorrow ~
md when looked into his tent, Ave min
Itos after, he was Sleeping as cclmly and
almost 40 sOuudly as nc sleeps tonight ut
lavcrsidc. Tho Generals mind was not
especially attuncd 20 mirth, but such was
his keen scusc Of the humorous that lac
appreciated every comical thing that hap
IcnCd. His generosity To- friends aud
maCnanmity 10 foes will be- always re-
momborcd Tho mutual friendship be-
tween him ard sherman IL one Of the most
beautiful things OF the war. But IL lac
loved much so did nc also hate. lie hated
az least two clgsscs Of people, liars and
towards. lie was himself absolutely tho
most truthful man ever know. lie would
state little events with Rs much particu-
larity az II on the witness stand. He
never used an oath and never but twice
during the whole war did know him 10
get into passion, and on both occasions
there was ample cause. General Grant
was, think, created by nature for great
emergencies. The very magnitude Of a
tusk seemed with him 20 call forth tho
powers which surmountod. In trivial mat
tors he WINS an ordinary man. lilo was
fnado for great things nor for llttlo. Hc
could wiring fi5,OOO,OOO from tho treasury
uf Great Britain for the nation. lie could
not protect his personal savings from tho
scoundrels In Wall street II were
asked what word in all the wealth Of the
sISgiiSh language best describcs his char
nctcr ! should say unhcsitatingly that tina,
word h loyalty He was loyal TO his
friends. loyal 10 his family. loyal to hi.
country and loyal To his God II was In
born In him and 10 often led him 70 stans
10y friends who no longer merited the at
iachmeut Many public man has ha,
troops Of followers be, auso OF his patron
ngo, but no other public man ever had $,
many friends who loved him for his owl
sake, who stuck 70 him when he was Cap
tain or General or President OF simply
private citizen
FAITHFUL PONIPEY.